His Pen in My Hand: April 2015

4.27.2015

Draw Me to You, Daddy!

‘Twas just a simple sketch—

Nothing very grand,

But pictured in the drawing

The boy was with his dad.

The innocent display

Of what his young heart treasured

Portrayed a daddy’s love

That nothing e’er could sever.

The call of great adventure,

Of conquering the wild;

He longed to be like daddy,

Though he was just a child.

His pencil drew the figures,

His heart burst with desire—

On stallions with his daddy

Is what his dream inspired.

The cry within his soul

Didn’t ask for pomp or gold,

“Just draw me to you, Daddy!”

Was the massage that he told.

* * *

Another simple sketch—

‘Twas nothing very grand,

But pictured in the drawing,

The boy was with his dad.

The innocent display

Of what his young heart treasured

Portrayed his daddy’s love

That nothing e’er could sever.

The memory filled his heart

As his pencil sketched away,

With deepest joy expressed

He remembered yesterday.

The sun was shining brightly,

To the river they had gone,

They got two boats—for him and dad,

And brother came along.

He, still, could smell the water

As he drew his dad and him,

The fondness of that treasure

Was cherished deep within.

“Thank you, Papa” were the words

He wrote with gratitude,

And in his heart, continued on—

“For drawing me to you!”

"My Son, give me thine heart, and

let thine eyes observe my ways."

~Proverbs 23:26~

Written by Elisabeth, Dedicated to Caleb and Papa

4.16.2015

Be Strong and of Good Courage!

The wise, old leader looked about

The young and fledgling nation,

The people he had led would soon

Embark on a great mission.

This leader knew his days on earth

Were numbered, quickly fleeting,

He knew the battles they would face—

Temptations of retreating.

The realization of their hopes

And dreams spread out before them,

But such would not be theirs without

A struggle and invasion.

Much was uncertain in the thought

Of conquering their strangers,

And in what little they did know

Left sense of ominous danger.

This trusted leader knew that he

Would not be going with them,

Instead, the baton he must pass

To one whom God had chosen.

His young successor, Joshua,

Was next to take the lead.

With courage and a father’s care,

He charged him valiantly:

“Be strong and of good courage—“

The words echoed in his ear,

“The Lord thy God will go with you;

Be not dismayed, nor fear.”

Many battles fought and won

By Joshua’s army,

Were by their courage in the Lord—

They fought so valiantly.

Courage is not the absence of

All sorts of dread and fear;

Courage comes from a focus on

What’s greater than your fear.

Another solder, Joshua,

Once stood upon a hill,

Amidst a heated battle—

The foe he could not still.

To him the charge was given,

“Whatever you may do,

‘Give your life before the hill,’

“Don’t let them get through you.”

Five times the foe charged up the hill

Attempting their attack,

But every time, his fighting troops

Sent them repelling back.

Now his troops were almost out

Of all their ammunition,

And of three hundred, eighty men

Were left to keep the mission.

They huddled low behind the rocks,

Desiring reinforcement,

But no help came, despite his plea

To aid his regiment.

Just when they felt their very weakest,

The foe was lining up

With even more than all before…

But Joshua stood up.

His weary men looked up at him,

Waiting for instruction,

His thoughts raced with pounding heart

As he pondered his direction.

He couldn’t retreat {“…Give your life first…”}

This was the higher ground,

{“What’er you do, don’t lose the hill.”}

He heard the battle sound.

Perhaps, the whole entire war

Depended on his call;

If he should lose, the ones behind

Most certainly would fall.

The enemy ran up the hill

For one final attack,

“I might die now.” He thought, “But not

With a bullet in my back.”

“Fix bayonets! And do it now!”

He urged with courageous surge,

With his sword drawn he led his men,

“Charge! Charge! CHARGE!”

The enemy, confused, reeled back,

Threw down their weapons, fled.

This one man’s courage, with his men,

Great victory had led.

Is there a challenge in your life,

A mountain you must keep?

Are there “giants in the land”

That make you feel so weak?

Has the enemy advanced, though

You’re low on ammunition?

Do you feel you’re losing ground

In a dreadful situation?

Though uncertain you may be

Of coming future days,

And fear the hard decisions

That you may have to face.

Be strong and of good courage,

Fear not, nor be afraid;

The Lord thy God is with you,

The vict’ry He has made.

Related Articles (From which this poem was inspired):

{Have Courage, My Son!} {Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain}

The Follow-Through

The air was quiet as the young man

---Faced His opponent.

Glancing down he took his stance,

Preparing for the moment.

Lifting it above his shoulder,

He boldly faced his challenge,

Holding tightly to his tool—

Prepared to swing with courage.

Then, here it came! With everything

He thought he could spare,

He swung…but heard the cry, “FOUL BALL!”

‘Twas more than he could bear.

Strike two, already! His heart sank,

His concentration shaking,

But in his ear he heard the charge

His gentle coach was saying,

“Follow-through, boy! Follow-through!

Don’t pull back on your swing,

Watch the ball into the bat…

Remember this one thing!”

His heart was pounding as he watched

The pitcher winding up,

“Relax…breath…eye on the ball…”

Nothing would make him stop.

One last, smooth breath…Here it came,

The swing he stepped into,

The act was smooth, he felt impact…

“Swing through, boy! Follow-through!”

He swung the bat right through the mark,

Then took off for first base,

Slid safe at second, then looked into

His father’s smiling face.

When one is focused just “to hit”,

It hinders effort due,

But when one swings “through the ball”

It is the follow-through.

Many, many years ago

A young boy took his stance,

To “hitter’s plate” he stepped right up

With not a fearful glance.

The king and warriors standing by

Would have this quest denied,

But, “Is there not a cause?!” The

Living God this foe defied!

In the name of God, the Lord of hosts,

With just a stone and sling,

He ran right to that giant foe—

He “stepped into the swing”

The act was smooth, he made impact

And hit the mark right on.

What victory! What great story!

We sing the victory song.

But don’t stop here; what if “foul ball?”

The story is not done.

The foe might rise, the army’s there,

The battle’s not yet won.

Young David ran and took the sword

And cut the giant’s head;

A follow-through was taken to

Ensure his foe was dead.

Then pulling through the thorough swing

He chased the enemy,

Not stopping till he knew He’d won

Completed victory.

The follow-through! The follow-through!

Keep focused on the goal,

Don’t stop short with just mere “hits”,

But follow through with soul.

Don’t put the fire out and then

Walk away too soon,

For “hotspots “ could ignite that were

Hidden from your view.

Are there things within your life

That keep you quite in bondage?

Sins that you have tried to hit

That still return with more rage?

Has your ball been “fouling off”?

Have fires reappeared?

Has the “conquered” enemy

Returned the way you feared?

Follow-through! Follow-through!

Don’t pull back on your swing,

Don’t stop with just a “hit”;

Remember, now, your King.

Don’t water-down your fire to just

A size “controllable”,

But seek FULL purity in Christ,

Put out the flame in full.

Complete the battle in your life

Against that sinful shame,

Beseech the Lord to cleanse your heart,

To glorify His name.

Are you a sinner, guilty now

Before a righteous Lord?

Ask God to cleanse and wash you in

His blood and Holy Word.

Don’t seek to just believe in Him,

But live entirely—

With heart and spirit, for our King—

Live it vibrantly.

Keep your eyes upon the goal,

Don’t stop for men’s applaud,

Follow-through, hand-in-hand with

4.10.2015

One Day at a Time

Sometimes on life's road

The way gets dreary,

As we carry our load

We oft get weary.

But when our strength is gone

He proves again

That He giveth a song

When we trust in Him.

When I cannot see

The step ahead,

When the mountain is steep

And I'm filled with dread;

I need not fear,

Just trust His plan,

For my Savior is near

And He holds my hand.

Come sunshine or rain,

Comfort or testing,

I'll never complain

For He is with me.

When I am weak,

My Lord is strong.

To Him I will cling,

He will lead me on...

One day at a time

I seek His face,

One day at a time

He gives me grace.

I'll not fret o'er tomorrow

As I walk in His way,

Its joys I'll not borrow,

For His grace is today.

*This is a song

Heaven Will Be Sweeter

A little girl looks out the window,

Fighting back the tears.

She waves 'goodbye' and watches sadly

As her friend now disappears.

"Why must we always say 'goodbye'

To those we love so dear?"

And this is what her mother says,

Holding her daughter near:

To everything there is a time

And a season on earth below.

Set not affections on the cares of life,

But in Heaven, where we will go.

Though to part with friends and dear ones

May at times seem hard to bear,

It will last but for a moment,

Then we all will gather there.

Heaven will be all the more sweeter

When this life we have passed through;

We will never say 'goodbye' again

When we gather there anew.

Together we will praise the King,

In our Father's courts we'll stay.

Yes, Heaven will be much sweeter

And 'goodbye' we'll never say.

The Heart of the Tower

"The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe"

~ Proverbs 18:10 ~

I struggled in anguish
Alone in my sin,

As fiery darts
Pierced me within.

My life quickly crumbling,
Each step growing weak,

Yet, in my faint sight,
Refuge did I seek.

Then, lo! on a hillside
A light faintly glowed;

The light of a tower--
'Twas my only hope!

With all my weak strength
I ran to the door,

Shivering and broken
I cried to the Lord.

"Take me into
the heart of the tower;

Away from the battle,
Away from the foe.

Take me into
The heart of the tower;

The place I find refuge,
The heart of the Lord."

In mercy, He took me
And covered my shame;

In love, He embraced me
And healed all my pain;

In grace, He forgave me,
Now nothing I fear.

Outside battle rages,
But my Lord is near.

Though outside I hear the noise of strife

And wince at battle cries,

My heart finds peace, secure I rest

For my refuge is Christ.